The Crystal Cavern

Healing Touch #4

by Hannah Alexander

When an ice storm strands Dr. Sable Chamberlin and paramedic Paul Murphy in the southern Missouri hills, they assume they're safe from the mysterious killer responsible for murdering Sable's grandfather and Paul's uncle. But while searching Sable's childhood home and connecting caves for clues, it becomes clear that real danger has followed them. Soon, Sable and Murph, fighting for their lives, discover secrets worth killing for. . .and unexpected treasure more costly than gold. Combining the rich setting of the Ozark hills with compelling and diverse characters, Hannah Alexander has crafted a fast-moving novel sure to keep readers asking the question--whodunit?

Genres: Christian, Christian Fiction, Mystery, Fiction, Suspense, Love Inspired, Mystery Thriller

368 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 2003

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

READY FOR THE NEW YEAR?

At this time of year, we have just finished reflecting on Christmas, when God gave us the greatest Gift ever possible. Now our thoughts are to the new year, with its upcoming rewards and challenges. Many of us will once again come up with New Year’s resolutions. This year I’m going to stick to my diet. This year I’m going to get into shape. This year I’m going to break that 5-minute mile. Okay, okay; it’s been a LONG time since I had that New Year’s resolution. And many will once again fail to live up to those resolutions, with their often unrealistic expectations. But enough about that.

Cheryl has chosen her word for the new year. It is solace. According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, solace means:

1. comfort in grief: alleviation of grief or anxiety

2. a source of relief or consolation

Rather than discouraging anyone, our prayer for you is that God will grant you solace as you face the new year's rewards and challenges.

Happy reading and God bless you.

Reviews

[Linda Langford · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story was just okay. I didn’t really like any of the characters or their behavior.

[Phyllis Whitaker · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book. Lots of suspense, and bad guys everywhere! Love that the main characters struggle sometimes with their faith. After all, we all have been there when we feel like where is God? The book was well written. I recommend reading it.

[Carlotta · Rating 1 out of 5]

meh. started and stopped, the combination of 2 writers doesnt allow the book to flow well. the book starts and stops on repeat.

[Nike Chillemi · Rating 3 out of 5]

This roamnce, medical thriller has action, suspense, romance, plot twists and turns, and quite a few red herrings.

[Crissy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book started off strong with the death of her grandfather and a then a family friend.
It started not holding my interest when the bus trip to return to her grandfather's home and escape the killers ends up turning into a slumber party with the bus group stranded at the house with an ice storm.
Then as things started coming together and pieces started falling into place it picked up and became a page turner again.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Crystal Cavern chaos

This book definitely kept me on the edge of my seat. It had a lot of mystery and suspense. I kept wondering who the murderer was. I got one part right, but was completely surprised about other things. I love mostly how through everything that happened, they learned how important it is to depend on the Lord. Very good!

[Ren · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't read a lot of mystery and hadn't read any Christian mysteries so this was a first for me. It was okay but didn't hook me in quite as much as I'd like. I finished it mainly just to see if I was right (I was). So overall it was okay, but it won't have me running out for more...

[Linda Rainey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Christian Romantic Suspense

Sable and Murph, together with a group of people trapped in an ice storm raced to solve a mystery.
I loved the storyline,the twists,turns and the intriguing .
This book is recommended for those who love Christian romantic suspense..

[Amy Webster-Bo · Rating 4 out of 5]

it was ok not what I thought it was, but good enough, too much talking not enough action though

[Giriffin · Rating 1 out of 5]

So boring.

[Debbie Dove · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very suspenseful and had several twist and turns throughout the book. I enjoyed reading this book as well as others written by Hannah Alexander.

[Heart DeCoupeville · Rating 1 out of 5]

Acquired Kindle Edition when offered free on Amazon.

Impossible to read due to bold font throughout. Seriously, who does this?

[Deon]

free on kindle
april 23, 2023
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[Cyndi]

Hannah Alexander never disappoints. Another cozy mystery in their superb style.

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Hidden Motive" is a Christian suspense novel with some romance. It's a very fast, suspenseful read. It's a case of "everything that can go wrong will go wrong" with no pauses in between. The suspense was created by physical danger to the two main characters and by trying to discover the truth about what Sable's grandpa had done and had discovered. There were a few, minor things that were never fully explained by the end of the book. However, surviving and stopping the bad guys seemed to be the main focus, and that was tied up by the end.

The setting was vividly described and brought back my own memories of caves and of a bad ice storm here in the Ozark mountains. The characters were engaging and realistic, and they acted in realistic ways. The Christian element flowed as a natural part of the story and seemed to primarily be remembering to trust God rather than their own strength, and recognizing how God had protected them even though they did get hurt.

There was no sex and no bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this heat-pounding suspense novel.

[Bonnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Someone killed Sable Chamberlain's grandfather, Josiah, and she was determined not only to clear his name of fraud but to find his killer unless he killed her first.

Sable and her trusted friend Paul Murphy, found themselves traveling with a bus load of strangers trying to survive the Ozark roads covered with ice from the storm. Not really knowing if one or more could be after them, they still offer them a place to stay at Sables' family home in the middle of the back woods. Cave adventures, accidents, solving mysteries, and deaths all make up Hidden Motive. It had me quessing to the end, was a great read!!

[Ellie · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Crystal Cavern takes the reader on a thrilling ride right from the first page, with heart stopping twists and turns that keep you guessing right to the end. Running for their lives, Sable Chamberlin and Paul Murphy are determined to discover the truth behind the death of Sable's grandfather and the mystery he left behind. But stranded in an ice storm in a creepy house atop an intimidating cavern, with a bunch of strangers to keep them company, makes their task a lot more tricky... and much more deadly. An engrossing read that would appeal to lovers of mystery and suspense.

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love caverns and caves and the mystery of them and this book is set in that area. It didn't get a 5 from me because of some of the confusion with the different ore's and minerals in the mining process.. just didn't keep my interest with that. But the suspense was great!

[Shauna · Rating 1 out of 5]

Couldn't get into this one. Boring. Cliche. It is written by a husband-wife team whose pen name is Hannah Alexander. The writing never flows. It is like they each took turns writning a chapeter and didn't check to see what the other had done.

[Inrisrini · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not that much thrilled, stoy lies and revolves on the same concepts...group of people, who is hurting whom, in between reading the same letter from grandpa, praying god, so on and so forth....at the end, the expected two comes out safely....to give back bone, the cave house, attic, old things !

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a mystery. I've read it 3 times and can never remember who did it.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I truly enjoyed this hbook aving grown up in Missouri and being familiar with many of the stop along the way in this whodunit mystery.

[Ginny · Rating 3 out of 5]

Excellent so far - ch 6

Made better by an actual cavern climb!

[Kcastro · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just the right amount of "christian" comments.

[Waynestennett · Rating 5 out of 5]

I remember really liking this book, fairly suspenseful and a quick read.

[Kdesoto · Rating 4 out of 5]

It held my attention the whole way through. Every time I thought I had figured out 'whodunit', I had to change my mind again!

[Cindy DeLong · Rating 5 out of 5]

The many characters were easy to keep track of. The story had plenty of action and just the right amount of description. I really enjoyed this story.

[Lisa Portala · Rating 2 out of 5]

Actually, I didn't finish this book. I got about half way through and decicded I didn't care for the story. I may pick it up again, later, and give it another try.

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good mystery & very suspenseful.

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just ok